Guinness Care staff have been coming up with creative and inventive ideas to keep residents living at Pickmere Court, an independent living development in Crewe, entertained while they have been unable to leave their homes due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Staff had the wonderful idea of contacting schools in the local area to ask if children would like to write letters, poems or draw pictures for the residents.
After a fantastic response from the school children and other children living in the area, Carly Sproston, who works as an administrator for Pickmere Court while working from home, has put them all together in a book ‘The Book of Smiles’ which has been gratefully received by all the residents.
The residents, just like everyone else, have been feeling the effects of the lockdown measures, so staff have gone above and beyond their usual duties to ensure residents have plenty to do.
Some of the activities that the residents have been able to enjoy, while social distancing has been observed, include:
• A zoo experience.
• Rainbows to colour in and put in their windows to show support for the NHS.
• Enjoy a virtual Grand National.
• Learn how to sign with a sign language word search.
• Having all the patterns to knit or crochet a frontline bear.
• Activity booklet full of crosswords, word searches, puzzles, and quizzes.
Resident Rosamund Ash said: “Life is difficult at the minute but I have my beautiful garden to keep me busy and I’m knitting items for Leighton Hospital babies.”
Resident Michael Podmore said: “I loved the activity book done by Carly, huge variety and kept me busy. It was a fantastic idea. Stay safe everyone.”
Carly Sproston from Guinness Care said: “All the staff at Pickmere Court want to make this difficult situation as bearable as possible for our residents and we are so pleased they are enjoying the fun activities to help pass the time. Our residents are coping really well and I would like to say a huge thank you to all of them and to all the children that sent us letters and pictures.”
Two residents made home-made cakes and pies which they sold in communal gardens, while maintaining social distancing, and to date have raised £600 which they have donated to local Leighton Hospital to help get extra PPE for hospital staff.
